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Migraines and TMJ Symptoms
Is there a link between migraines and TMJ Symptoms? These are some key observations that I have noted in regards to patients that suffer from migraines. My conclusion from these observations is that the link is very strong. Watch the video to learn more.
Over the 25 or so years of treating patients one key observation, I have noted is that many, if not most migraine sufferers also have jaw dysfunction. This can be from tightness, local discomfort , discomfort when opening, local pain to referral pain from the jaw muscles.
As those that suffer from migraines can attest, it can be annoying to debilitating. One can have a day where they are just left to lay in a darkened room to lie down. Some have nausea and end up vomiting from the pain.
The jaw muscles, if they have trigger points can refer into the head and the face. Below is a graphic of these muscles and referral patterns.
What are some of the symptoms of jaw muscle tightness?
- Local pain and tightness
- Referral pain to the head and face
- Clicking when opening and closing
- Decrease range of motion when opening
- Plugging or ringing of the ear
- Sinus type of headaches
- A feeling of a tight band around the head
- Neck pain
As you can see even without a migraine the jaw muscles can refer symptoms to the head and face. Another symptom to add in is a feeling of dizziness. This can be caused from tightness and trigger points in a neck muscle named the Sternocleidomastoid. This is mentioned because whenever there is an issue with the jaw, eventually the neck can be affected. It also works where there can be issues with the neck and it can impact the jaw.
The neck muscles can also refer headaches. So just imagine, a migraine sufferer that has TMJ syndrome that also has neck issues. This can be a formula for pain exacerbations.
The Migraine, Stress, Muscle Tightness Cycle
Migraines and TMJ symptoms are closely linked. With migraines, you get the head and face symptoms, with TMJ symptoms you also can have head and face symptoms. When one is about to or are going through migraine symptoms, it can be stressful.
When you are under stress, it can cause you to clench muscles such as your jaw muscles. This clenching can lead to tightness of the jaw muscles potentially causing trigger points to develop.
These trigger points can compound on the migraine symptoms.
What is needed in regards to treatment goals is to relax the jaw muscles and the neck muscles as to help diminish the compounding effects.
What have I concluded?
My conclusion is that from the results from patients and their feedback, it looks like there is a strong link between migraines and TMJ symptoms. As the muscles are treated and as a result become more relaxed. Head and face symptoms also decrease. I think that the jaw symptoms can transpose over migraine symptoms.
What I have noted is that when the jaw and neck are treated it can actually help with frequency, duration and intensity of migraines.
Migraines and TMJ symptoms are closely linked and TMJ treatments can potentially ease the discomfort.
If you have migraines and also suffer from TMJ issues, give us a call and we can determine what we can do for you.
More Resources:
Did you know that tight fascia can cause headaches? Watch this video now. These neck stretches can help with tightness and pain. Relieve the discomfort here.
